# The "no calling anyone a troll" rule is dumb **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 11, 2005, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-no-calling-anyone-a-troll-rule-is-dumb/325676 "2005-10-11T01:23:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2005, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-no-calling-anyone-a-troll-rule-is-dumb/325676/101 "2005-10-11T23:25:18Z")
> [@cricetus](#): > > Good question. Because I’m bored? Maybe I’ll re-subscribe **cricetus** myself. Just because **I’m** bored. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-no-calling-anyone-a-troll-rule-is-dumb/325676/102 "2005-10-12T01:00:45Z")
> [@deevee](#): > > “t-words”? “tiggers”? “tics”? “tagos”? “tags”? “tikes”? Are these acceptable substitutes? How about “twit”? ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-no-calling-anyone-a-troll-rule-is-dumb/325676/103 "2005-10-12T01:19:12Z")
> [@Maureen](#): > > If any attention at all is bad (per **Tengu’s** post and your support of that post), then calling them a troll as opposed to calling them a knuckle dragging ass munch isn’t really going to make much difference, is it? If they’re a troll, no, it isn’t. That’s why, if you think somebody’s a troll, you don’t call them **anything**. Calling them a troll isn’t going to make them step back and say ‘Oh, I’m sorry, you caught me. I’ll be good.’ Calling them a troll is going to have exactly the same effect as calling them an asshole - it’ll encourage them to continue trolling because they know they’ve gotten a bad reaction. So you don’t call them a troll, you don’t call them an asshole, you don’t call them a ‘knuckle dragging ass munch’. You don’t call them anything. You ignore them. And if they’re not a troll, you’ve just publicly accused an innocent - if dumb, abrassive, or assholish - poster of an bannable offense, which isn’t what a normal person would consider a good thing. And, if you call a non-troll on their dumb, abrassive, or assholish tendencies, they might stop. Or they might not. Of course, after the latter is shown to be the case, you should ignore them, too, since the effect will more or less be the same thing. So, nothing good can come of posting an accusation of trolling, whereas there is a slight chance that something good might come of calling someone on their negative tendencies. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-no-calling-anyone-a-troll-rule-is-dumb/325676/104 "2005-10-12T01:31:47Z")
> [@Maureen](#): > > I just said it was a stupid justification for enforcement of a rule that is purportedly for the benefit of the entire board but really, doesn’t seem to help. I still don’t see the difference. If any attention at all is bad (per **Tengu’s** post and your support of that post), then calling them a troll as opposed to calling them a knuckle dragging ass munch isn’t really going to make much difference, is it? The point is, I think we should be able to call these people on their behavior if the occasion warrants it. And I don’t think we should have to tap dance around calling a troll a troll. Because the point is, if you think another poster is a troll, you don’t say _anything_ to them. You report them to the mods and they get warned or banned. Calling a troll a knuckle dragging ass munch is exactly what a troll wants you to do: he exsists solely to start fights. When you flame a troll, you’re playing right into his hands and facilitating his trolling. Which the mods have said, repeatedly and explicitly for years, not to do. Do not feed the trolls. Calling a troll a troll, is feeding it. If you don’t think another poster is a troll, then calling him a troll anyway is, itself, trolling. Which you’re not supposed to do on these boards. So calling another poster a troll is either a) false, and violative of a board rule (do not troll) or b) true, and violative of a board rule (do not feed the trolls). Is this clear yet? ---
**Author:** ![Syntropy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Syntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syntropy)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-no-calling-anyone-a-troll-rule-is-dumb/325676/105 "2005-10-12T02:00:37Z")
As clear as the other two posters who said it before you. And to me, it’s still clearly stupid. Telling people they can’t use a word because it describes verboten behavior is just silly. If I want to say “that asshole is a troll” I should be able to. If someone derails one of my threads and trolls it, I should be able to call their ass out in the Pit. I’ll probably report the trolling prick to the mods as well. As I said earlier to **Harborwolf** , I understand the reasoning. I just don’t happen to agree with it. And obviously I’m not the only one; people have been tiptoeing around using “troll” ever since the rule went into effect. Obviously, you are capable of exhibiting exemplary behavior in each and every situation. I admit to not being able to occasionally. Oh, well. ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-no-calling-anyone-a-troll-rule-is-dumb/325676/106 "2005-10-12T02:28:49Z")
> [@Maureen](#): > > As I said earlier to **Harborwolf** , I understand the reasoning. I just don’t happen to agree with it. And obviously I’m not the only one; people have been tiptoeing around using “troll” ever since the rule went into effect. Obviously, you are capable of exhibiting exemplary behavior in each and every situation. I admit to not being able to occasionally. Oh, well. But there really is no reason to tiptoe around it. You simply report it to the mods and let them make the decision. They like this sort of thing. It makes 'em feel needed. What I’ve never understood is why we need to be able to use the word. What’s the attraction. We don’t have enough insults to hurl at each other? What’s the allure of this one little word? ---
**Author:** ![Syntropy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Syntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syntropy)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-no-calling-anyone-a-troll-rule-is-dumb/325676/107 "2005-10-12T02:31:10Z")
Oh, probably forbidden fruit syndrome. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-no-calling-anyone-a-troll-rule-is-dumb/325676/108 "2005-10-12T02:32:15Z")
Has anyone made an Orwellian reference yet? Just checking… ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-no-calling-anyone-a-troll-rule-is-dumb/325676/109 "2005-10-12T02:38:02Z")
> [@Maureen](#): > > Oh, probably forbidden fruit syndrome. Oh now. None of that short answer bit. It’s an honest question. Personally, if I think someone is trolling I hit the report button and let the mods sort it out. No need to bring the court of doper opinion into the equation. Why is it so important that we be able to use the word troll? What purpose will it serve that isn’t already being taken care of? ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-no-calling-anyone-a-troll-rule-is-dumb/325676/110 "2005-10-12T02:40:12Z")
> [@NoClueBoy](#): > > Has anyone made an Orwellian reference yet? > > Just checking… We have always had the rule against calling someone a troll. The rule is a double-plus good. ---
**Author:** ![Syntropy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Syntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syntropy)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-no-calling-anyone-a-troll-rule-is-dumb/325676/111 "2005-10-12T02:41:36Z")
I was being entirely sincere. I know myself well enough to recognize when I’m saying yes just because someone in authority is telling me “no.” This place has a lot of intelligent people. As a general rule, intelligent people tend to resent being forbidden to do anything. They question the reasoning behind it, they argue against it, they find reasons to get around it. Forbidden fruit is a very real motivator. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-no-calling-anyone-a-troll-rule-is-dumb/325676/112 "2005-10-12T02:43:17Z")
> [@CynicalGabe](#): > > We have always had the rule against calling someone a troll. The rule is a double-plus good. Pretty good! ;j I was going the New Speak angle myself. Remove the word and the thought vanishes. ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-no-calling-anyone-a-troll-rule-is-dumb/325676/113 "2005-10-12T02:50:20Z")
> [@Maureen](#): > > I was being entirely sincere. I know myself well enough to recognize when I’m saying yes just because someone in authority is telling me “no.” > > This place has a lot of intelligent people. As a general rule, intelligent people tend to resent being forbidden to do anything. They question the reasoning behind it, they argue against it, they find reasons to get around it. Forbidden fruit is a very real motivator. Well then, that I understand completely. 🙂 To everyone else then, I’ll rephrase. How would the possible new rule (no troll prohibition) be an improvement over the old rule? ---
**Author:** ![uglybeech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/82dd89/32.png) [@uglybeech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/uglybeech)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-no-calling-anyone-a-troll-rule-is-dumb/325676/114 "2005-10-12T03:02:24Z")
> [@Harborwolf](#): > > To everyone else then, I’ll rephrase. How would the possible new rule (no troll prohibition) be an improvement over the old rule? Well I’ll reiterate my single objection. With the rule in place, once someone’s insinuated that somebody’s a troll and gotten away with it (\*ahem \* _ **Excalibre** _) nobody gets the chance to insist they back it up or explain their reasoning. It just hangs over the victim like a giant question mark. You think, maybe I shouldn’t respond to this person, maybe I’m missing something. I think that’s worse than if it were brought up openly and aired out fully. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-no-calling-anyone-a-troll-rule-is-dumb/325676/115 "2005-10-12T03:23:06Z")
> [@Harborwolf](#): > > Well then, that I understand completely. 🙂 > > To everyone else then, I’ll rephrase. How would the possible new rule (no troll prohibition) be an improvement over the old rule? The new rule would be no prohibition against calling out trolls, asking people if they’re trolls, or whatever. Frankly, there’s a bit of an excluded middle there anyway. People can wind each other up a bit without really “trolling” in the sense that they are lying and trying to cause train wrecks. ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-no-calling-anyone-a-troll-rule-is-dumb/325676/116 "2005-10-12T11:22:34Z")
> [@uglybeech](#): > > Well I’ll reiterate my single objection. With the rule in place, once someone’s insinuated that somebody’s a troll and gotten away with it (\*ahem \* _ **Excalibre** _) nobody gets the chance to insist they back it up or explain their reasoning. It just hangs over the victim like a giant question mark. You think, maybe I shouldn’t respond to this person, maybe I’m missing something. I think that’s worse than if it were brought up openly and aired out fully. But the question is answered when the person isn’t banned. Once it’s out there, people are going to report it and mods are going to take a look. If they aren’t banned, then no trollage. **Cricetus** , I wasn’t trying to say that trolls would be permitted, just the word. I figured everyone would be up to speed on it already so I shortened it up a bit. ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-no-calling-anyone-a-troll-rule-is-dumb/325676/117 "2005-10-12T14:39:36Z")
I still don’t understand the logic of insulting an obvious troll as opposed to just calling them a troll and be done with it. An “insult-fest” could continue for several screens whereas once a troll has been designated, the moderators wouldn’t even have to be bothered with shutting a thread down and it would just die because of apathy. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-no-calling-anyone-a-troll-rule-is-dumb/325676/118 "2005-10-12T15:03:34Z")
> [@Harborwolf](#): > > I figured everyone would be up to speed on it already So it’s not your fault for not saying what you meant, it’s my fault for not being smart enough to know what you really meant. :wally ---
**Author:** ![Rufus\_Xavier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@Rufus\_Xavier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rufus_Xavier)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-no-calling-anyone-a-troll-rule-is-dumb/325676/119 "2005-10-12T16:34:57Z")
I thought the basic rule of the boards was “don’t be a jerk.” And yet, I can open a pit threat titled **DoperX Is A Jerk** and my OP can go on at length at about how much of a jerk that Doper is, with specific instances where I think they are being a jerk. So, the argument that being a troll is against the rules doesn’t sell me. What I wonder is whether I could start a pit thread titled “DoperX is Not A Troll,” and fill my OP with a fair, reasoned and logical argument that DoperX is clearly mentally ill and should seek psychiatric assistance immediately, and that their apparently trollish behavior is actually a symptom of paranoid schizophrenia. Is it OK to call someone a not-troll? Based on some of the early posts in this thread and some of the others where **GW** figures prominently, it’s obvious that there are no consequences for declaring another Doper to be mentally ill. I suppose it might be hard to tell the difference between a troll and a mentally ill person. I don’t think anyone here, medical personnel included, is qualified to make that judgement based on someone’s posts on a messageboard. ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-no-calling-anyone-a-troll-rule-is-dumb/325676/120 "2005-10-12T16:49:14Z")
> [@cricetus](#): > > So it’s not your fault for not saying what you meant, it’s my fault for not being smart enough to know what you really meant. :wally Pretty much. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-no-calling-anyone-a-troll-rule-is-dumb/325676.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-no-calling-anyone-a-troll-rule-is-dumb/325676.md?page=7)